The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 279 - 171: Wolves Many, Meat Scarce
She had crossed swords with Canglong underwater and knew that if a giant beast in the water wanted to attack someone, it would always lurk first. Before the crocodile struck, its pile-driver-like tail whipped through the water, creating a sound she caught with her ears. In the blink of an eye, she judged the position and managed to save Wei Mazi just in time.
This person was really lucky. If the one sitting on the valve had been the real Hao San, his life would have been lost long ago.
Perhaps the dead crocodile had attracted the attention of other strange creatures in the water, and the group’s journey through the waterway went smoothly. Upon setting foot on solid ground again, the squad leader breathed a sigh of relief.
"Big brother, why is the crocodile blood black?" Ning Xiaoxian asked in a low voice.
Having just saved Wei Mazi, everyone witnessed her action and naturally gave her more respect. Pang Hai explained, "The creatures in this secret realm all have strange shapes, and their blood is also black. The crocodile is water-born, you haven’t felt it yet, but when you see other monsters later on, you will understand."
With just a few simple sentences, he dispelled any complacency. The team members rallied their spirits and scanned their surroundings.
Pang Hai took out the map bestowed by Yunxiao Palace. With her sharp eyes, Ning Xiaoxian immediately noticed that the range marked on this map was indeed much larger than the one she had, and this squad had indeed deviated from the direction where the Moonlight Cup was located.
"We can’t keep dragging on like this. I need to find an opportunity to leave the group or bring them to the location of the Moonlight Cup," she thought quickly, "No! The Moonlight Cup is something I plan to monopolize; how can I lead them to it? Otherwise, if they report to Yunxiao Palace after leaving the secret realm, I’ll be in trouble."
Her purpose for entering the secret realm was very clear, and now was not the time to discuss collectivism. Just as she was about to find an opportunity to slip away, she heard Pang Hai say, "You three, go search on the right side. Third Lady, come with me to explore the left."
Three hundred people, five treasures, a case of too many wolves and not enough meat. Ning Xiaoxian was burning with urgency, yet Pang Hai beside her was unhurried. Experienced in adventuring, he well understood that haste makes waste and was speaking to her in a low voice, "The teams that have come in this time, there are two that look very familiar. It seems they have entered here ten years ago too, likely strong opponents. When we just entered, I glanced back and saw they were heading this way too, but we crossed the lake first, so we should be one step ahead. Could you possibly set up a Numbing Poison Array nearby?"
It’s not about whether others will consider me, but me taking them into account. In the secret realm, there are no morals to speak of. She nodded, setting up a mixed Poison Formation at the location requested by Pang Hai. Pang Hai chose not a wide-open area, but rather a narrow, goat-intestine-like path. If someone thinks they are smart and insists on taking this narrow path, they’re in for bad luck. Those who enter the formation would soon find their legs numb, unable to move. Pang Hai’s intention was not cruel enough to kill, so he only asked her to set up a numbing poison.
However, the poisons in Ning Xiaoxian’s hands were in no way comparable to what Hao San possessed. Only when these people entered her Poison Formation would they realize that ordinary detoxification pills were utterly futile against such toxins.
After entering the secret realm, she had tried to communicate with God Demon Prison but to no avail. The Tusk she carried no longer resonated with her intentions, it seemed that its spiritual connection was temporarily severed. At this moment, all she could rely on was her robust body and her martial arts skills, which were slightly stronger than an average person’s. If it weren’t for the fact that the team’s direction was completely opposite from the Moonlight Cup, she would not consider leaving. After all, in the secret realm, high Combat Power doesn’t necessarily mean one can survive to the end.
This secret realm was also very peculiar; the treasures’ locations never followed any pattern. Mortals might discover them in caves or under some big stone by the shore. To find all the treasures here, one would indeed need to turn over every stone. This is also why, even after a thousand years, the treasures have still not been completely found. However, it is certain that the treasures are becoming less and less. In the past three hundred years, there have been at least ten instances where not all five treasures were discovered before the realm closed on its own when time ran out.
Therefore, the only way to find the treasures is to—search! Avoid the places that have already been thoroughly explored by predecessors and start from the areas where the least treasures have been found. The five people splitting up were doing just that; because Pang Hai’s map already indicated that only three items had appeared in this area, there was still potential to be tapped.
Seizing the opportunity of the scattered search, she gradually distanced herself from Pang Hai, and now, just ahead of her was a small thicket. Once she hid in there, she intended to make her escape.
